S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  1528--A
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 17, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. WOERNER, BRABENEC, DeSTEFANO, MANKTELOW, STIRPE,
   JONES, WILLIAMS, COOK, JACOBSON, GOODELL,  DICKENS,  GLICK,  LEMONDES,
   LUPARDO,  BLANKENBUSH,  RAGA -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. HAWLEY,
   TAGUE -- read once and referred to the  Committee  on  Agriculture  --
   committee  discharged,  bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
   recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to establish a youth development agriculture technology challenge
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.   There is hereby established a youth development agricul-
 ture technology challenge  competition  ("challenge")  for  students  in
 elementary,  secondary,  and  higher  education. Such challenge shall be
 coordinated by the department of agriculture and markets  ("department")
 as part of the state fair in conjunction with Cornell cooperative exten-
 sion  and  other  interested  partners,  including,  but not limited to,
 institutions of higher education, school districts and boards of cooper-
 ative education services,  youth  agricultural  organizations  promoting
 leadership  and  career success in agriculture, and other science, tech-
 nology,  engineering  and  mathematics   and/or   robotics   competition
 programs. The department is authorized to utilize funds appropriated for
 the  state fair and received pursuant to section 31-c of the agriculture
 and markets law and to receive, accept and use gifts and  donations  for
 the     purpose     of    this    act.    All    money    received    as
 gifts or donations shall be deposited in  a  special  fund  pursuant  to
 section  31-c  of  the agriculture and markets law and disbursed for the
 purposes of this act  or  paid  to  the  commissioner  of  taxation  and
 finance,  who  together with the state comptroller is hereby constituted
 and appointed the joint custodian thereof and shall constitute a special
 fund to be used under the direction of the department for  the  purposes
 of  this  act.  The  department, Cornell cooperative extension and other
 participating partners shall work together to establish the challenge to
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04637-02-3
              

 A. 1528--A                          2
 
 engage students to develop solutions to relevant technological  problems
 and issues faced by farmers and food producers including, but not limit-
 ed  to,  increasing  food  production,  increasing energy efficiency and
 decreasing  the  cost of farming and food production, and addressing the
 impact of farming on the environment and  the  impact  of  environmental
 changes  such  as  climate  change  or  pollinator  loss on farming. The
 department and its partners shall identify resources including  training
 or  coaching  that  will  assist students in underserved rural and urban
 communities to participate in  the  challenge,  and  develop  deadlines,
 parameters  including  establishing  elementary,  secondary,  or  higher
 education categories, and relevant judging  criteria  for  the  projects
 submitted  for  the  agriculture  technology challenge. Subject to funds
 available for the purposes of this act prizes may  be  awarded  for  the
 winning submissions of the challenge.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.